Okay, so, let’s talk about primer. I’ve been doing a bunch of DIY stuff around the house lately, and I’ve learned a thing or two about when to use this stuff. It’s not always a must, but man, it can make a difference.

First off, I started by tackling this old dresser I got from a garage sale. It was covered in this dark, glossy paint, and I wanted to give it a fresh, light look. I figured I could just slap some new paint on it, but a friend told me I should think about using a primer first.
Why Use a Primer?
- It helps the paint stick better. This was a big one for me because that old paint job was slick. The primer gave the new paint something to really grab onto.
- It covers up the old color. This dark color was intense, and I was worried it would show through. The primer helped block it out so the new color could really shine.
- It makes the paint job last longer. I don’t want to have to redo this every year. My friend said the primer would help prevent chipping and peeling, and so far, so good.
So, I got myself some primer that said it was good for covering dark colors and went to work. Applied it with a brush around the edges first to “cut in,” just like the instructions recommended. Then rolled it on the larger surfaces. It was a bit of extra work, but I could see right away that it was going to make a huge difference. Let that dry for a while, following what it said on the can.
Then I painted over it with my new color. The difference was night and day. The new paint went on smoothly, and I only needed two coats to get it perfect. Without the primer, I bet I would have been painting all day. Ended up with this awesome, even finish. It was like a brand-new piece of furniture!
Now, I’ve also used primer on some walls that had some stains and marks. Same deal. Covered everything up, and the paint looked way better.
But, I also did a small project where I was painting some brand-new, raw wood shelves. In that case, the guy at the hardware store told me I could skip the primer. The wood was fresh, and the paint was designed to go right on it. That worked out fine, too.

So, from my experience, use primer if you’re:
- Painting over a dark or glossy color.
- Dealing with stains or marks on the surface.
- Working with a surface that’s not very porous.
But, if you’ve got something new and clean, you might be able to skip it. Just read the instructions on your paint and primer, and you’ll be good to go!
That’s my two cents on primer. Hope it helps someone out there! It’s definitely saved me some time and headaches on my projects.